PNPC Nyra Tal - Archaeology is not what you find, it's what you find out
Carter Schimpff
((Archaeological Survey Site, Serein Basin – Rylor))
Nyra Tal was crouched at the edge of the trench in the middle of what could generously be described as a discussion and less generously as a gentle academic ambush.
Two volunteers stood before her – both holding brushes, both looking faintly defensive.
Nyra held up the small stone fragment they had triumphantly presented to her moments earlier.
Tal: Fascinating hypothesis.
She turned the object over between her fingers.
Tal: Counterpoint – it’s a weathered root.
One of the volunteers opened his mouth.
Nyra lifted a finger.
Tal: In your defense, it is a very convincing root.
The tension broke; the volunteers laughed, the embarrassment dissolving into relief.
Tal: Archaeology rule number one: if it looks like an artifact, feels like an artifact, and excites you like an artifact–
She lightly tapped the stone against the trench wall.
Tal: –it’s probably lying to you.
She handed the fragment back with a friendly nod.
Tal: Good instincts though. Curiosity is the correct methodology.
As the volunteers moved off, Nyra rose smoothly to her feet, brushing the dry Rylorian dust from her hands.
That was when she noticed the two newcomers approaching.
They stood out immediately – Starfleet posture was hard to miss, even out of uniform.
The redhead walked slightly ahead, shoulders squared, gaze sweeping the area in quiet habit. Alert. Measuring distances. Security, almost certainly.
Behind her came the blonde – relaxed but attentive, eyes moving not across the volunteers but across the ground. Layers. Soil color. Stone composition.
Science.
Nyra’s mouth curved into a small, knowing smile.
Interesting sample group.
The two women approached directly.
Cole: Lieutenant Junior Grade Natasha Cole. I was told this was the place to report if I wanted to exchange paperwork for dirt.
Jovenan: I’m Jovenan. We’re here to volunteer.
Nyra studied them for just a moment longer than politeness strictly required.
Then a faint half-smirk appeared.
Tal: Lieutenant Nyra Tal. ::lifting her trowel:: And congratulations – you’ve both passed the first test of archaeological volunteering.
She gestured lightly with the trowel in her hand.
Tal: You found the trench without falling into it. ::beat:: Statistically speaking, that puts you ahead of our last two volunteers.
Cole: Response
Jovenan: I haven’t done archaeological work before, but I’m familiar with rocks and digging. I’m a planetary scientist. Would that help at all?
Nyra’s expression brightened slightly at Jovenan’s comment.
Planetary scientist.
Useful.
Tal: That helps quite a lot, actually.
She stepped to the edge of the trench and crouched, gesturing toward the exposed sediment layers running along the wall.
Tal: We’re working through late-period habitation strata – mostly structural collapse and household debris. Stone, ceramics, occasional tool fragments.
She tapped one of the layers lightly with the trowel.
Tal: Your knowledge will help us avoid accidentally cataloguing ‘interesting dirt’ as something archeologically significant.
Her gaze flicked toward Cole again, thoughtful but amused.
Tal: And you… the posture. The sharp eyes, constantly scanning. I’m going to say… Intelligence, Tactical, or Security. Am I close, or am I close?
Cole: Response
Nyra stepped aside so both of them could look down into the trench.
The excavation grid stretched out before them, narrow stringlines dividing the soil into careful squares.
Jovenan: What kind of findings can we expect?
Tal: This section belonged to a settlement that predates Rylor’s early orbital expansion. Probably agricultural – possibly trade-related.
She crouched and brushed a small patch of soil away with practiced ease.
Tal: Most of what we’re finding are foundation stones, storage fragments, and the occasional domestic artifact.
Cole/Jovenan: Response
Nyra glanced at the indicated layer, then back at Jovenan with clear approval.
Tal: Exactly.
She shifted slightly to give the two volunteers a better view.
Tal: Seasonal flooding most likely. It sealed the earlier habitation layer before erosion could scatter everything.
Nyra brushed another thin sweep of dust aside, revealing the faint edge of something pale beneath the soil.
Tal: ::wry wink at Jovenan:: Nature occasionally does archaeologists the courtesy of preserving things for us.
Cole/Jovenan: Response
Nyra tilted her head thoughtfully at the redhead.
Tal: Depends on your definition of exciting.
She pointed her brush toward the square they were standing over.
Tal: If you mean culturally significant artifacts, intact structures, or historical data that changes our understanding of the settlement ::pause:: approximately three percent.
Cole/Jovenan: Response
Nyra handed each of them a brush and a narrow trowel from the tray beside the trench.
Tal: Then let’s test the hypothesis.
She indicated two empty squares in the excavation grid.
Tal: Jovenan, you can take C-8. Cole, right beside her at the edge of the trench in C-7. ::small, amused glance:: Perimeter awareness may prove useful if any aggressive pottery fragments attempt an escape.
Nyra stepped down into the trench herself, kneeling easily in the dust.
Cole/Jovenan: Response
TAG/TBC!
Lieutenant Nyra Tal
As Simmed By:
Lieutenant JG Roy Bancroft
Medical Officer
USS Artemis-A
A240205RB1